SFIA Members to Discuss Potential Rules Changes in Team Sports

Date: 3/26/15

SFIA’s Tom Cove To Present Overview of State of the Industry Report

SILVER SPRING, MD – March 26, 2015 -- On Tuesday, April 14th, the 8th Annual NFHS/SFIA/NCAA Rules Conference will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana. On that day, executives from a number of SFIA member companies, the rules editors from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and representatives of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will attend a joint conference to discuss potential rules changes that effect equipment for each sport played at the high school and college level.

The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis. In all, more than 100 representatives from nearly 70 sports companies are expected to attend the event. Brands which will be represented included Under Armour, Rawlings, Wilson, Easton, Russell, Riddell, Cutters, Shock Doctor, Mizuno, Hillerich & Bradsby, Brine, Nike, Reebok, McDavid, and ASICS.

Cove will give some recent sports participation trends, newsworthy trends to the team sports world, and topline details from SFIA’s soon-to-be released 2015 State of the Industry address.

Duma is expected to talk about Head Impact Exposure and the 5-Star Rating System. The Virginia Tech 5 Star Rating system has become a marketing force in the world of protective headgear. Dr. Duma will discuss the rating system and the planned implementation of the 5 Star Rating Systems for ice hockey helmets, lacrosse helmets and sensor devices.

There will be 15 sports meetings on the agenda which will specifically target baseball, basketball, football, field hockey, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, spirit (cheerleading), swimming & diving, track & field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. At each sport-specific meeting, the respective NFHS and NCAA rules editor will explain what rules changes are being proposed for that sport and when they will take effect.

The overall goals of the Rules Conference include:

Provide an opportunity for the members of the rules making bodies (NFHS and NCAA) and the industry to become acquainted.

Determine the best ways to develop and implement rule changes that affect equipment.

Work on ways to communicate rule changes to the industry, team dealers and retailers prior to their implementation.

“This annual NFHS/SFIA/NCAA Rules Conference is not a decision making occasion,” states SFIA President/CEO Tom Cove. “It exists to facilitate discussions among interested SFIA-member companies and organizations on issues related to sports rules as they pertain to equipment and apparel.”

According to NFHS Executive Director Bob Gardner, the rules meeting discussions are designed for a certain amount of ‘give and take,’ but discussions always stay focused on three issues common to all rules makers, namely the impact a given product may have on (1) risk minimization; (2) the balance between offense and defense; and (3) the sound traditions of the various sports.

“We have an opportunity to play the role of a facilitator in situations like this where it’s important for the rules making bodies like the National Federation and the NCAA to get constructive input from our membership which produce all the products necessary to play competitive sports,” notes Cove.

“I want to thank SFIA for helping facilitate this meeting and bringing all parties together to meet and discuss rule issues for team sports at the high school and college level,” says Pat Ryan (Wilson Sporting Goods Company; Chicago, IL). “Every company attending this event is a competitor, but it’s great to have this kind of rules discussion for everyone and have a clear understanding of what those potential rules changes may be.”

For a copy of the agenda of this rules meeting, click here. To register for this event, click here. Attendance to the meeting is by invitation only. For SFIA members, the registration fee is $89. For non-SFIA members, the charge is $389. Lunch will be provided to attendees.

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services.